Biju Kulathakal

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (Credit Suisse Securities USA) is the broker/dealer division of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, an investment banking company headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1998 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Credit Suisse (USA), Inc., ultimately owned by Credit Suisse Group AG (SWX: CSGN) in Switzerland. Credit Suisse Securities USA offers a suite of equities, solutions and credit products and services which includes global securities sales, trading and execution, prime brokerage and comprehensive investment research. Their clients include financial institutions, corporations, governments, institutional investors, such as pension funds and hedge funds, and private individuals around the world.

McKinley Capital Management LLC (McKinley Capital) is a SEC-registered investment headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. The firm was founded by Robert “Bob” Gillam in 1990 and is wholly-owned by McKinley Management, Inc. McKinley Capital provides investment advisory and sub-advisory services to institutional, individual and high-net worth investors. They also participate as a sub-advisor in various wrap fee programs and provide emulation or model portfolios to clients. In addition, the firm is the general partner and/or investment advisor to various commingled investment funds such as offshore and onshore limited partnerships and a statutory trust.

Piper Sandler & Co. (Broker) (PSC-Broker) is the full-service brokerage division of Piper Sandler & Co., a financial service firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are a subsidiary of Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR). The firm was founded in 1969 and previously known as Piper Jaffray & Co. They became Piper Sandler & Co. when Piper Jaffray Companies and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. merged to become Piper Sandler Companies in 2020. PSC-Broker provides brokerage and investment banking services to financial institutions, corporations and other financial investors. Their core focus sectors are Agriculture, renewables & cannabis, Business services, Chemicals & Materials, Consumer, Diversified industrials & services, Energy, Financial services, financial sponsors, Healthcare, and Technology.

Pursuant Health, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of healthcare services. It offers immunization incentive programs, health risk assessments, risk adjustment solution, chronic condition management, telehealth or retail clinic, and biometric data collection. The company was founded by Bart Foster in October 2007 and is headquartered in Lawrenceville, GA.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is a registered broker-dealer subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Domestic Holdings, Inc., ultimately owned by Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) in the US. Headquartered in New York City, the firm was founded in 1987 and provides debt and equity services including underwriting, M&A advice, securities dealing and brokerage and trade execution. Their client base ranges from large global institutional investors to hedge funds at the cutting edge of innovation in the industry.

Northwestern University is a private institution founded in 1851 to serve the Northwest Territory, an area that now includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota. Northwestern has three campuses

Industrial Investors LLC (Industrial Investors) is a private equity subsidiary of Industrial Investors Capital Management Ltd founded in 1999. The firm is headquartered in Moscow, Russia.

Hickory Farms LLC operates as a specialty retailer of branded and gift food products. It markets and distributes meat, cheese, sweets, fruits and nuts, seafood, and other processed food items. The firm receives orders through online catalogues, grocery stores, and mass merchants. The company was founded by Richard Ransom in 1951 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

Main Street Gourmet LLC provides customized bakery products for national and regional in-store bakeries, restaurants and other food operators. Its product lines consist of muffins, cookies, brownies, bars, granola, quick breads, toppings, and many other dessert products. The company was founded by Harvey S. Nelson and Steven L. Marks in 1987 and is headquartered in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

Sterling Fund Management LLC (Sterling Partners) is a Private Equity firm founded in 1983 by Eric Becker, Michael Bronfein, Shoshana M. Vernick, Jeff Elburn. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Crocus Technology SA develops magnetically enhanced semiconductor technologies. Its products include microcontrollers, magnetic logic units, access control, CTMP memory, and magnetic sensors. The firm’s services encompass licensing and design. It caters to mobile phone manufacturers. The company was founded by Jean-Pierre Nozieres, Jean-Pierre Braun, Thierry Chavigner and Jacques Noels in 2004 and is headquartered in Grenoble, France.

Morningstar, Inc. (Research) is the investment research arm of Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: MORN), an American financial services firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded by Joseph Mansueto in 1984 and provides independent portfolio information offering star ratings and analysis of managed funds. They also provide economic commentary and asset allocation information based on qualitative research.

Illinois Technology Association engages in the provision of programs and services focused on development, visibility and talent attraction. It focuses on the growth acceleration of technology companies where members benefit from access to programs in three key areas: development, talent, and visibility. The company was founded by Terry Howerton and Fred Hoch in 2005 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

The Illinois State Bar Association is a state bar association that serves lawyers. The association is based in Springfield, IL. The association provides various resources for lawyers, including legal forms, expert services, and publications. It also offers continuing legal education programs and hosts events for lawyers.

Modjule LLC(Modjule) is a private equity firm founded in 2013 by Gregg Kaplan. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

The Institute of Internal Auditors is an international professional association that serves over 235,000 members and has awarded more than 190,000 certified internal auditor (CIA) certifications worldwide. The non-profit company is based in Lake Mary, USA and has subsidiaries in more than 170 countries and territories. Established in 1941, the IIA is recognized throughout the world as the internal audit profession's leader in standards, certifications, education, research, and technical guidance. Anthony J. Pugliese has been the CEO of the American company since 2021.

ecoATM LLC engages in the provision of in-store trade-in solutions. It develops and manufactures an automated self-serve kiosk system to evaluate and buy-back used electronics from consumers. The company was founded by John A. Beane, Mark Bowles, Robert E. Genthert, Eric Rosser, Michael Librizzi, Pieter van Rooyen, Seth Heine, and Andrew Spaventa in 2008 and is headquartered in San Diego, CA.

Transas CJSC develops software, integrated solutions and hardware technologies. It offers its products to the marine and aviation industry, including both onboard and shore-based applications, such as VTMS and monitoring solutions, avionics, flight simulators, and airfield charts. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Shukr Investments Ltd. is an Emirati company that believes in achieving high returns on investment while investing in socially responsible firms. The private company is based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The company's proprietary process helps them achieve their aggressive return targets. The company was founded in 2013 by Omar Ali Bassal.

Maxim Partners LLC (Maxim Partners) is a private equity subsidiary of MJR Holdings LLC founded in 2009 by Gregg W. Wilson. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.